Four Individuals Sentenced In Federal Court

MARTINSBURG, WEST VIRGINIA — Four individuals were sentenced on February 11, 2013, in United States District Court in Martinsburg by Judge Gina M. Groh.

United States Attorney William J. Ihlenfeld, II, announced that:

JAMES EDWARD ALSTON, age 45, of Martinsburg, was sentenced to 70 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. ALSTON entered a plea of guilty on August 15, 2012, to “Possession with Intent to Distribute Crack Cocaine in Martinsburg. ALSTON was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

DARNELL KEITH CAREY age 34, of Kearneysville, West Virginia, was sentenced to 33 months imprisonment to be followed by 12 years of supervised release. CAREY entered a plea of guilty on October 9, 2012, to “Distribution of Crack Cocaine within 1,000 Feet of Pikeside Transitional School.” CAREY was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

RICHARD TAYLOR, age 42, of Bunker Hill, West Virginia, was sentenced to 24 months imprisonment to be followed by three years of supervised release. TAYLOR entered a plea of guilty on October 10, 2012, to “Distribution of Crack Cocaine” in Martinsburg, West Virginia. TAYLOR was remanded to the custody of the United States Marshal pending designation to a Federal institution.

These cases were prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarod O. Douglas and former Assistant United States Attorney Thomas O. Mucklow and investigated by the Eastern Panhandle Drug & Violent Crime Task Force, consisting of officers from the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Martinsburg Police Department, and the Berkeley County Sheriff’s Department.

RUSTY MARK EDWARDS, age 38, of Ridgeley, West Virginia, was sentenced to 60 months imprisonment to be followed by four years of supervised release. EDWARDS entered a plea of guilty on August 13, 2012, to “Possession with Intent to Distribute 202.7 Grams of Crack Cocaine” in Ridgeley, Mineral County, West Virginia. EDWARDS, who is free on bond, will self-report to the designated Federal institution on March 12, 2013.

This case was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Jarod O. Douglas and former Assistant United States Attorney Thomas O. Mucklow and investigated by the Potomac Highlands Drug & Violent Crime Task Force (consisting of officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the West Virginia State Police - Bureau of Criminal Investigations); the Allegany County, Maryland, Task Force; the Washington County, Maryland, Task Force, and the FBI.